The California State University board of trustees on Wednesday approved a measure to ask campus foundations to pay for raises of up to 10 percent for incoming campus presidents in a move designed to quell public outrage about the salary hikes.Under the new policy, taxpayers will not fund raises for new presidents. Instead, campus nonprofit groups, such as foundations, will be asked to raise funds specifically to pay for the raises.State Superintendent Tom Torlakson applauded the move as "a significant step in the right direction."But critics said campus presidents should not be getting raises at all at a time when students are facing a 9 percent tuition increase in the fall and spring 2013 enrollment is being frozen due to cuts in state funding. The faculty has not had a raise since 2008."They seem to have an obsession with making sure executives are highly paid," said Kevin Wehr, president of the Sacramento State University chapter of the California Faculty Association. "Foundation money could be used for more student scholarships or for student instruction."Chancellor Charles Reed maintains that the 23-campus system needs to offer better salaries in order to lure top talent to the presidents' posts. The system is undergoing a wave of retirements.Several of a group of about dozen students who are in the eighth day of a hunger strike to protest university policies, addressed the board to present their demands, which include rolling back administrator salaries to 1999 levels.Natalie Dorado, a hunger striker at CSU San Bernardino, said the strikers also want an elimination of housing and car allowances for campus presidents and a five-year moratorium on tuition hikes.Reed met with the group Friday, but no resolution to their issues was reached.One hunger striker was reported hospitalized last week and others said their blood pressure had plummeted, but they said they remain committed."Our bodies are tired but our spirits are strong," said Dorado, 25.

LOS ANGELES —

The California State University board of trustees on Wednesday approved a measure to ask campus foundations to pay for raises of up to 10 percent for incoming campus presidents in a move designed to quell public outrage about the salary hikes.

Under the new policy, taxpayers will not fund raises for new presidents. Instead, campus nonprofit groups, such as foundations, will be asked to raise funds specifically to pay for the raises.

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State Superintendent Tom Torlakson applauded the move as "a significant step in the right direction."

But critics said campus presidents should not be getting raises at all at a time when students are facing a 9 percent tuition increase in the fall and spring 2013 enrollment is being frozen due to cuts in state funding. The faculty has not had a raise since 2008.

"They seem to have an obsession with making sure executives are highly paid," said Kevin Wehr, president of the Sacramento State University chapter of the California Faculty Association. "Foundation money could be used for more student scholarships or for student instruction."

Chancellor Charles Reed maintains that the 23-campus system needs to offer better salaries in order to lure top talent to the presidents' posts. The system is undergoing a wave of retirements.

Several of a group of about dozen students who are in the eighth day of a hunger strike to protest university policies, addressed the board to present their demands, which include rolling back administrator salaries to 1999 levels.

Natalie Dorado, a hunger striker at CSU San Bernardino, said the strikers also want an elimination of housing and car allowances for campus presidents and a five-year moratorium on tuition hikes.

Reed met with the group Friday, but no resolution to their issues was reached.

One hunger striker was reported hospitalized last week and others said their blood pressure had plummeted, but they said they remain committed.